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Mother: Ore. Teen In Bomb Plot Struggles With Disorder

File photo of a school bus in front of a school. (credit: Getty Images)

ALBANY, Ore. (CBS Seattle/AP) — The mother of an Oregon teenager accused of plotting to blow up his high school says he struggles with a form of obsessive-compulsive disorder.

A lawyer has issued a statement on behalf of Marianne Fox, the mother of 17-year-old Grant Acord.

“I grieve for my son, but understand and support the efforts of law enforcement to keep our beloved community safe,” the statement said. “This is a challenging and confusing time for everyone who knows Grant.”

His mother’s statement also says the teenager’s disorder is associated with strep infections.

The National Institute of Mental Health completed studies on such a phenomenon, which they referred to as Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal Infections, or PANDAS for short.

“The term is used to describe a subset of children and adolescents who have Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and/or tic disorders, and in whom symptoms worsen following … infections such as ‘strep throat’ and scarlet fever,” the NIMH website noted.

Researchers added on the site, “Unlike typical cases of OCD, where symptoms begin gradually and may be hidden by the child for several weeks or months … the children in the PANDAS subgroup reported a very sudden, dramatic symptom onset … [that] usually occurred in the aftermath of a strong stimulant to the immune system, such as a viral infection or bacterial infection.”

Acord is expected to be arraigned Tuesday on charges that include one count of attempted aggravated murder and six counts of manufacturing and possessing a destructive device, authorities said.

He was arrested Thursday night after police got a tip that he was making a bomb to blow up West Albany High School about 75 miles south of Portland.

On Saturday, Benton County District Attorney John Haroldson said Acord will be charged as an adult with attempted aggravated murder.